The global patent landscape of emerging infectious disease monkeypox.

BACKGROUND: Monkeypox is an emerging infectious disease with confirmed cases and deaths in several parts of the world. In light of this crisis, this study aims to analyze the global knowledge pattern of monkeypox-related patents and explore current trends and future technical directions in the medical development of monkeypox to inform research and policy. METHODS: A comprehensive study of 1,791 monkeypox-related patents worldwide was conducted using the Derwent patent database by descriptive statistics, social network method and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Since the 21st century, the number of monkeypox-related patents has increased rapidly, accompanied by increases in collaboration between commercial and academic patentees. Enterprises contributed the most in patent quantity, whereas the initial milestone patent was filed by academia. The core developments of technology related to the monkeypox include biological and chemical medicine. The innovations of vaccines and virus testing lack sufficient patent support in portfolios. CONCLUSIONS: Monkeypox-related therapeutic innovation is geographically limited with strong international intellectual property right barriers though it has increased rapidly in recent years. The transparent licensing of patent knowledge is driven by the merger and acquisition model, and the venture capital, intellectual property and contract research organization model. Currently, the patent thicket phenomenon in the monkeypox field may slow the progress of efforts to combat monkeypox. Enterprises should pay more attention to the sharing of technical knowledge, make full use of drug repurposing strategies, and promote innovation of monkeypox-related technology in hotspots of antivirals (such as tecovirimat, cidofovir, brincidofovir), vaccines (JYNNEOS, ACAM2000), herbal medicine and gene therapy.

Characterization of modified rice straw biochar in immobilizing Bacillus subtilis 168 and evaluation on its role as a novel agent for zearalenone-removal delivery.

Microbial remediation of environmental pollutants can be advanced by carrier based cells immobilization. Whereas the effects of microorganisms immobilized on biochar for removal of zearalenone (ZEN) still remain unknown. Herein, this work presented the characterization of rice straw biochar (RSB) around modification in immobilizing Bacillus subtilis 168 and the role in fighting ZEN in vitro. Specifically, 10% of RSB with pH 5 condition were optimal for bearing cells, where majority of cells loaded inside the pore and minority on surface with agglomeration or scattering status. Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-inclusion RSB showed better performances including over 93% of ZEN detoxification rate (32.48% in free cells), cells preservation, and stability of detoxification in simulated gastrointestinal environment. RSB treated with sulphuric acid made nutrients adsorption generally less than 6.5%. No residues of α-ZEL and α-ZAL were found in ZEN biotransformation process whether by free cells or composites. Mechanism discussion implied that predominant monolayer chemisorption by RSB and subsequent biodegradation by extracellular enzymes from microorganism involved in ZEN-removal process. Collectively, these findings contribute to provide an applying strategy for coordination of biochar and microorganisms as potentially mycotoxin detoxifying agent in agricultural feed bioremediation and environmental decontamination processes.

MiR-202-3p regulates interleukin-1ß-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in human nucleus pulposus.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNA molecules, have emerged as important factors during intervertebral disc degeneration. This study was to determine whether miR-202-3p regulates interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) in human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Human NP cells were stimulated with IL-1ß in vitro. MicroRNA arrays were used to determine the expression profile of 1971 human miRNAs and the miRNAs targets were identified using bioinformatics. In IL-1ß-stimulated NP cells, 10 microRNAs were down-regulated, 2 microRNAs were up-regulated. There was a significant reduction in hsa-miR-202-3p (miR-202-3p) expression in the severe degenerative disc compared with mild degenerative disc. Down-regulation of miR-202-3p expression by IL-1ß was correlated with up-regulation of MMP-1 expression in human NP cells. IL-1ß-induced activation of MAP kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) decreased miR-202-3p expression and induced MMP-1 expression. MiR-202-3p suppressed IL-1ß-induced MMP-1 production. Conversely, treatment with anti-miR-202-3p remarkably increased MMP-1 production. In addition, mutation of the miR-202-3p binding site in the 3'-UTR of MMP-1 mRNA abolished miR-202-3p-mediated repression of reporter activity. Functional analysis showed that miR-202-3p could decrease type II collagen degradation, whereas overexpression of MMP-1 by Lentiviral-shMMP-1 abolished the effect of miR-202-3p on type II collagen degradation. These results suggest that miR-202-3p is an important regulator of MMP-1 in human nucleus pulposus and may contribute to the development of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Surgical treatment of calcaneal fractures of Sanders type II and III by a minimally invasive technique using a locking plate.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the outcomes of surgical treatment of calcaneal fractures of Sanders type II and III using a minimally invasive technique and a locking plate. We reviewed 33 feet in 33 consecutive patients with Sanders type II and III calcaneal fractures who had undergone a minimally invasive technique using percutaneous reduction and locking plates. All operations were performed by the same surgeons. The postoperative evaluation included radiographs, determination of restoration of Böhler's angle and Gissane's angle, and administration of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hind foot scale, Maryland Foot Score, and visual analog scale of pain. The mean visual analog scale score was 1.6 ± 1.4 when radiographic fracture healing was observed. The median functional score of the 33 patients (33 feet) reached 82 (interquartile range 80 to 99) at the last follow-up evaluation according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hind foot scale and 89 (interquartile range 80 to 99) according to Maryland Foot Score. All cases achieved restoration of a normal Böhler's angle and Gissane's angle. Postoperative superficial infections occurred in 2 patients, subtalar arthritis developed in 2, and no soft tissue necrosis was observed. For Sanders type II and III fractures of the calcaneus bone, treatment with a minimally invasive technique combining percutaneous reduction and locking plate fixation provided satisfactory clinical results, with a lower incidence of complications. However, longer term studies with a larger sample size and more randomized controlled trials are required to define the superiority of our minimally invasive technique compared with conventional surgical treatment of calcaneal fractures.